XML 17 R2.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.8.0.1
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS - USD ($)
$ in Thousands
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2017
Dec. 31, 2016
Dec. 31, 2015
Income Statement [Abstract]      
Net sales $ 10,424,858 $ 10,137,204 $ 9,973,384
Cost of merchandise sold 6,327,301 6,022,647 5,741,956
Gross profit 4,097,557 4,114,557 4,231,428
Warehousing, marketing and administrative expenses 3,048,895 2,995,060 2,931,108
Operating earnings 1,048,662 1,119,497 1,300,320
Other income and (expense):      
Interest income 2,570 717 1,166
Interest expense (80,458) (66,332) (33,571)
Loss from equity method investment (37,771) (31,193) (11,740)
Other, net 2,321 (3,631) (5,470)
Total other expense (113,338) (100,439) (49,615)
Earnings before income taxes 935,324 1,019,058 1,250,705
Income taxes 312,881 386,220 465,531
Net earnings 622,443 632,838 785,174
Less: Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest 36,713 26,910 16,178
Net earnings attributable to W.W. Grainger, Inc. $ 585,730 $ 605,928 $ 768,996
Earnings per share:      
Basic (in dollars per share) $ 10.07 $ 9.94 $ 11.69
Diluted (in dollars per share) $ 10.02 $ 9.87 $ 11.58
Weighted average number of shares outstanding:      
Basic (in shares) 57,674,977 60,430,892 65,156,864
Diluted (in shares) 57,983,167 60,839,930 65,765,121